おらしょ こころ旅

Registered asset

Nagasaki

Karematsu Shrine

・With the ban on Christianity enforced in 1614, the Shogunate strictly cracked down on Christians. Many Christians in the Sotome area continued to practice their faith in hiding.
・Hidden Christians in the Kurosaki area congregated in secret upon the hill of Karematsu to carry on the tradition of “Oratio” (prayer chants).
・At the beginning of the Meiji Era, Christians in this area built a shrine here dedicated to St. John, who was the teacher of the Japanese religious instructor, Bastian.
・Many gravestones still remain today near the shrine, placed upside down in the usual style, thus rendering the epitaphs unviewable.

Related persons and terms（By hovering your mouse pointer over an item, explanation of the item are displayed.）

Oratio

［Oratio］ Oratio is a collective term for prayer chants of Latin/Portuguese origins introduced to Japan in the 16th century.

Senpuku Kirishitan

［Senpuku Kirishitan］ Senpuku Kirishitan (hidden Christians) lived ostensibly as Buddhists during the ban on Christianity but secretly carried on their faith.

Bastian

［Bastian］ Bastian was a Japanese evangelist who was active in the Sotome area during the period of the ban on Christianity. He left behind a church calendar (higuri), essential for keeping the faith alive, and prophecies that gave hope to the Senpuku Kirishitans (hidden Christians.) His achievements have been passed down from generation to generation by the people of Sotome, Urakami, and Goto.

Biography & Glossary >>

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